KORUS FTA battle approaches railroad or referendum

Posted on : 2011-11-05 10:46 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Amid escalating conflict, GNP hints at possible KORUS FTA railroading as opposition calls for referendum
 chairman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs
chairman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs

 Trade and Unification Committee
Trade and Unification Committee

By Kim Oi-hyun

The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) ratcheted up the pressure on the opposition Friday, hinting at the possibility that it will exercise authority to raise the ratification motion for the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

During a talk with reporters Friday, Nam Kyung-pil, chairman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee, said the party would be attempting further dialogue and negotiation over the weekend, adding, “If we keep having these confrontational situations, we will have no choice but to follow procedure in the manner permitted by democratic procedure and the National Assembly Act.”

The GNP has already made plans to formally request that National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae exercise his authority to present the motion during next week’s plenary session if no headway is made in discussions with the opposition.

Meanwhile, the opposition is raising the possibility of a national referendum on the matter. At an expanded meeting of officials, Democratic Party (DP) Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu proposed examining the investor-state dispute system and other matters further and deciding on the matter through a “verdict from the South Korean public” in the 2012 general elections.

“One way to do it would be to pass [the motion] in the 19th National Assembly [formed after the general elections] or to decide the matter in a national referendum,” Sohn said.

The idea of a national referendum on the KORUS FTA was proposed by People's Participation Party (PPP) Chairman Rhyu Si-min. Rhyu's idea was to begin examining the KORUS FTA now and hold the referendum with the general elections in April 2012, with the 18th National Assembly either passing or voting down the motion defending on the referendum’s outcome.

The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) also reportedly examined the idea of a national referendum recently but decided it would not be appropriate to raise the matter during a situation of conflict.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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